ExxonMobil focusing on plot 10

ExxonMobil, with partner Qatar Petroleum, is focused on its planned drills in plot 10 of Cyprus EEZ before the end of 2018, senior vice president Neil Chapman said on Friday after a meeting with President Nicos Anastaasiades.

He did not exclude the possibility that the energy giant may also express an interest in plot 7, but said the company has still not looked at it in detail.

It was also premature to talk of cooperation with Total for that specific plot, he added

The government said yesterday that it would invite companies with exploration licenses in plots bordering plot 7 to express an interest.

Asked to comment on Turkey’s objections to Cyprus’ energy plans, Chapman said that these were issues that should be discussed by governments. “ExxonMobil is a commercial entity and its work is toe produce and develop natural resources on behalf of the governments. Any government issues must be discussed and resolved by governments, not by us” he said.

Also participating in the meeting were Foreign and Energy Ministers Nicos Christodoulides and Yiorgos Lakkotrypis and government spokesman Prodromos Prodromou.